From my travel notes to the United States back in 2013. With little photo editing in 2020.
Last time I visited Brighton Beach back in the Summer of 2013 and I even stayed overnight here at some Russian owned apartments. Well actually that's the main reason we headed here - it was already late evening and we were sitting at Starbucks next to Central Park waiting for a host we had previously spoken on coachsurfing, but since the host was not responding anymore we decided to catch the last subway and go to the Russians.
Quickly we were in Brighton Beach, we headed to some Russian store and asked where could we get some cheap accommodation here and soon we were rewarded with lovely apartments somewhere in Brighton Beach. We paid some $140 for a two-night stay here and got a large room, shared kitchen and shared bathroom. No questions asked - who are we, where are we from and where are we heading to - God I just love such attitude.
Here are just a few reasons I love Brighton beach - you can get Riga Black Balsam here (At Tatiana's Grill Bar on the Boulevard), you can say a Gamarjoba to Georgian who is working at Tatiana's Grill Bar and they have a lovely white sand beaches here, and yes you can try speaking Russian here.
Russian TV channels in Brighton Beach
We got an apartment in Brighton Beach from a Russian guy (Mark, if I remember correctly) for some $70 per night
Author of this blog captured in Brighton Beach
What can be better than drinking milk on the street in Brighton Beach? Right - drinking vodka!
Boulevard in Brighton Beach
White sand beach in Brighton Beach
Riga Black Balsam and Georgia on my mind
Bar attainder at Tatiana's Grill Bar noticed flag on my cap and said to me - Gamarjoba (Hello, in Georgian) it seemed he was surprised to learn that we are expats in Georgia, and we got Riga Black Balsam here.
Brighton Beach's Subway station
It connects you straight with Manhattan, and I believe that's just one another great reason to visit Brighton Beach. Also there used to be Baba Roza selling smuggled cigarettes from Europe. lol
About Brighton Beach
Brighton Beach is an ocean side neighborhood in the southern portion of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, along the Coney Island peninsula.
For a very long time, until the end of the 20th century, the area was not considered prestigious. There were dirty streets, high crime rates, and many illegal immigrants. During the summer, though, people from all around the city went to Brighton Beach's beach next to the Atlantic Ocean.
The collapse of the Soviet Union, and the subsequent significant changes in the social and economic circumstances of post-Soviet states, caused thousands of former Soviet citizens to immigrate to the United States. Many of these Soviet immigrants came to Brighton Beach during the late 1980s and '90s. Brighton Beach had a heavy influx of emigrants due to low housing prices. The new residents spoke mainly Russian, so a large number of firms, shops, restaurants, clubs, offices, banks, schools and children's play centers speak Russian and are intended mainly for Russian-speaking clients.